Appeal to PM, Pak for stopping exchange of fire: CM

Poonch, Mar 19: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan for stopping the continuous exchange of fire in the Line of Control (LoC), which has caused heavy losses to the civilians there.
The CM Monday visited Balakote, Bimber Gali to console with the family who lost five of its members during cross border shelling on Sunday.
She handed over cheques of Rs. 25 lacs as ex gratia to the next of kin of the deceased.
Mehbooba Mufti also handed over cheques of Rs 3 lacs each for meeting the educational expenses of the two daughters of the family who too were injured in yesterday’s shelling incident. She also announced bearing of all expenses coming on the treatment of these two surviving family members. She also assured that the brother of the deceased breadwinner of the family would be given job by the Government to sustain the family.
“This is very bad. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are the one paying the price of enmity and partition between our country and Pakistan. Our people are being killed on both the sides. It is my appeal to our Prime Minister (Modi) and Pakistan that exchange of fire should immediately stop,” Mehbooba said.
She also asserted that the people in the state wanted peace and that the children should go to school safely after the ceasefire violation has been completely stopped.
“Steps should be taken to establish peace like Vajpayee Ji (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) did in 2003 and went to Pakistan when ceasefire violations took place. Prime Minister Modi also went to Pakistan (in 2015) but Pathankot (attack) unfortunately happened after it (his visit).”
Mufti stressed on peace as the ‘only way forward’ and said that the country will have to get back on the “right track if it wanted to save the people of Jammu and Kashmir”.
The Chief Minister also announced construction of 15 community bunkers in Balakote area besides stationing of one bunker vehicle for the help of the local people. Besides, she also announced strengthening of health facilities including a trauma hospital, road connectivity and other facilities in the area.
Chief Secretary, B B Vyas; Principal Secretary, Home, R K Goyal; Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Rohit Kansal; Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Hemant Sharma; IGP, Jammu zone, Dr. SDS Jamwal; senior officers of Army and Poonch district administration also accompanied the Chief Minister during her visit.